UPDATE 3: Murder victims identified in double homicide

07/22/2014

Update 3 7/22/2014
The identities of the suspect and victims in this double homicide have been confirmed. The victims’ identities are Linda Parentau and David Elmer Wells. The suspect who has been arrested and is currently being held without bail is Parentau’s son, Richard Leo J. Parentau. Though he is being held without bail no official murder charges have been filed as of yet.

Authorities have dealt with the Parentau family in the past after having to involuntarily commit Richard to a mental health facility multiple times last year. Police were able to quickly identify Linda’s body because of these run-ins.
Police were aided in identifying Wells’s body since multiple business cards were found near his body. When police arrived at the suspect’s home they found streaks of blood on the carpet and the suspect’s business truck parked outside.

UPDATE 2; 6:45From the Seattle Police Blotter
Around 4 p.m. a pedestrian discovered the body of an adult female in the 7100 block of 1st Avenue S. This is directly underneath Highway 99. The woman suffered injuries similar to the first victim. Homicide and Crime Scene Investigation detectives are on scene. Detectives are looking into the possibility of a connection between the two victims.
Following up on leads from earlier this morning, detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the 700 block of S Southern Street. Detectives have arrested an adult man and are investigating his possible involvement in both of these murders.

UPDATE: 6:30pm
Seattle Police have found another homicide victim in the 7100 block of 1st Ave. South they believe is related to the earlier body found on the Duwamish waterway. They have detained a person of interest.

Original Post
The Seattle police blotter posted today that the body of an adult male was found by a man out for an early morning walk along the Duwamish waterway. The body had suffered "severe head trauma"

He called 911 and summoned police officers and medics who responded around 6:30am. The body was found near 8th Ave South and South Hudson Street. He was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

Homicide and Crime Scene Investigation detectives began a search for any evidence that might lead them to a solution of the incident. According to the police report they believe that the victim was assaulted somewhere else, brought to the Duwamish waterway bank, and left there.

Detectives canvassed the surrounding neighborhood searching for witnesses which did yield some clues. Some area residents reported seeing a suspicious car in the neighborhood after midnight.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle Police Homicide Office at (206) 684-5550.

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